LifeStyle

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  S. Korea's drive-thru COVID-19 screening seeks approval as international standard SEOUL -- A drive-thru system introduced by South Korea for the quick and safe screening of patients infected with a novel coronavirus went beyond the primary gateway to become an international standard at an international body that promotes worldwide proprietary, industrial, and commercial standards. The method has been benchmarked widely by other countries. The drive-thru screening method proposed by South Korea in April to a technical committee of the Geneva-based International 2020-08-04
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  NHN's cooperative medical care software awaits deregulation SEOUL -- The use of messengers for collaboration by medical staff is restricted in South Korea because a medical law prohibits uploading patients' medical information to external platforms. To get around regulations, NHN, an IT company that focuses on cloud services, has used its technology and know-how to develop a cooperate care software called "TOAST MedicalTalk" at the request of medical staff. MedicalTalk is a specialized medical team-only collaboration messen 2020-07-22
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  Real-time biometric signal monitoring system awaits technoloy transfer for commercial use SEOUL -- A biometric signal monitoring system for patients with infectious diseases such as COVID-19 awaits technology transfer from developers for commercial use at domestic hospitals and exports. Because medical staff can measure biological signals in real time without facing patients, the system can reduce the possibility of secondary infections and efficiently operate medical personnel. The system consists of VDR-1000, a unit that can measure biometric information such as ECG (e 2020-07-21
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  CHA Biotech agrees to provide stem cells for atopic dermatitis treatment SEOUL -- CHA Biotech, a biopharmaceutical company with South Korea's largest pipeline of stem cell therapies, concluded a deal with a local biotech startup, to support the development of a novel drug candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis using stem cell-derived exosomes. CHA Biotech said it has signed a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with Exocobio, which develops innovative therapeutics as well as cosmetic pr 2020-07-16
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  40-year-old man becomes first volunteer to participate in COVID-19 vaccine test SEOUL -- A 40-year-old man became the first to participate in clinical trials for INO-4800, a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by a U.S. biotechnology company. Seoul National University Hospital is recruiting some 160 healthy volunteers for clinical trials until October. Clinical trials are underway in South Korea to test the safety and efficacy of two vaccine candidates, including INO-4800 developed by Inovio Pharmaceuticals. The International Vaccine Institute (IVI), headquart 2020-07-15
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  Moon's s New Deal masterplan calls for 18 smart hospitals by 2025 SEOUL -- Under a "New Deal" masterplan unveiled by President Moon Jae-in, South Korea will create 18 smart hospitals by 2025, including three this year, that allow the real-time monitoring of patients and cooperation among medical institutions based on digital devices and advanced technologies such as 5G networks and Internet of Things. Moon said the masterplan requires a total investment of 160 trillion won ($133 billion), including 58.2 trillion won for digitalization. & 2020-07-15
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  Genexine's DNA vaccine candidate selected to get quick state support SEOUL -- South Korea's health regulatory agency selected GX-188E, a therapeutic DNA vaccine candidate for the treatment of cervical cancer, which is being developed by Genexine in phase II clinical trial, as an item that will receive state support for quick commercialization. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said GX-188E has been selected for its "bio-challenger" program that supports the rapid release of bio-medicine with innovative concepts and technologies. It 2020-07-14
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  LSK Global PS supports IVI's clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine in S. Korea SEOUL -- LSK Global Pharma Services, a leading contract research organization (CRO) in South Korea, partnered with a vaccine institute affiliated with the United Nations Development Programme to support clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by a U.S. biotechnology company. Clinical trials are underway in South Korea to test the safety and efficacy of two vaccine candidates, including INO-4800 developed by Inovio Pharmaceuticals. The International Vaccine Inst 2020-07-13
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  Clinical trials to test ten treatment and two vaccine candidates in S. Korea SEOUL -- Clinical trials are underway in South Korea to test the safety and efficacy of ten treatment and two vaccine candidates. South Korea's health regulatory agency said that five more are under review to see if they are suitable for a national campaign to contain a new coronavirus pandemic. Candidates for remedies listed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety included camostat mesilate, ciclesonide, clevudine, nafamostat mesilate, ifenprodil, EC-18 (synthetic monoacetyldi 2020-07-10
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  S. Korea eases tight regulations on use of propionic acid SEOUL -- South Korea's health regulatory agency eased tight regulations on the use of propionic acid, which is a naturally occurring carboxylic acid and has many important uses because of antibacterial properties. It will be recognized as natural when detected in small amounts. Propionic acid is used as a preservative and flavoring agent in packaged foods because it has antibacterial properties and prevents the growth of various molds. In agriculture and livestock operations, 2020-07-10
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  Celltrion to begin clinical trial soon with candidate for antibody treatment SEOUL -- Celltrion, a South Korean bio firm involved in a project to find the treatment of COVID-19 patients, will begin clinical trials this month with the candidate for antibody treatment that was found to be more effective in neutralizing the mutant strain of the new coronavirus. Celltrion said it would begin clinical trials on July 16. Its goal is to mass-produce therapeutic antibodies in the first half of next year. The Korea National Institute of Health, a state research bod 2020-07-09
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  Daewoong seeks Philippine approval to test tapeworm treatment medicine SEOUL -- Daewoong Pharmaceutical, a major bioengineering company in South Korea, has applied for approval by a Philippine health regulatory agency to test niclosamide (DWRX2003), a tapeworm treatment medicine selected as a candidate for COVID-19 antibody treatment. Daewoong said it has sent an investigational new drug (IND) application to the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines. If approval comes, the company will go ahead with the first-stage clinical trial of DWRX200 2020-07-08
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  Daewoong tests camostat mesilate for treatment of COVID-19 SEOUL -- Camostat mesilate, a potent serine protease inhibitor sold by Daewoong Pharmaceutical under the brand of Foistar, has been approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, a government public health agency, to go ahead with second-stage clinical trials to prove its efficacy in treating COVID-19. In clinical trials, 90 patients with mild or secondary symptoms will be given drugs for up to 14 days to determine the effectiveness of Foistar tablets, which are used to treat to 2020-07-07
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  Daewoong to stage clinical trials of COVID-19 treatment using stem cells SEOUL -- Daewoong Pharmaceutical, a major bioengineering company in South Korea, will carry out the first phase of clinical trials in Indonesia for COVID-19 respiratory symptom treatment using mesenchymal stem cells after drug efficacy tests using animal models have identified anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects. If the stability of DWP710 is confirmed in phase 1 clinical trials, Daewoong will go to the next stage of testing in South Korea within this year. Daewoong's join 2020-07-06
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  Telemedicine available for Koreans staying abroad in third quarter SEOUL -- Telemedicine services are available for South Korean staying abroad, especially in overseas construction sites, in the third quarter of this year, thanks to concessions from doctors who have recognized the difficulties of countrymen stranded in countries with poor medical conditions following the death of three workers infected with COVID-19. Dozens of South Korean workers at overseas construction sites have tested positive for COVID-19. Three have died before being transpo 2020-07-06
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  French institute partners with island county for industrial and medical use of marine plants SEOUL -- A French marine biology and oceanography research center joined hands with an island county off South Korea's southwest coast to use marine plants such as kelp and hijiki for the development of functional cosmetics, health functional foods and medicines. The Station biologique de Roscoff (SBR) and Wando County will conduct joint research in the marine bio filed in EUREKA, an intergovernmental organization for pan-European research and development funding and coordinat 2020-07-03
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  Yuhan to co-develop and sell GI Innovation's biologic for treatment of allergic diseases SEOUL -- Yuhan, a pharmaceutical and chemical company in South Korea, signed a contract with GI Innovation, a domestic bio-venture company, to co-develop and sell GI-301 in overseas markets except for Japan. GI-301 is a biologic for the treatment of allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis and chronic idiopathic. Yuhan said in a regulatory filing that the contract amount is 20 billion won ($16.6 million). If Yuhan develops and sells GI-301 directly, it will pay 89 billion won 2020-07-01
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  Turkish company Ilko joins Genexine's COVID-19 vaccine development SEOUL -- Ilko Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company in Turkey, will work with Genexine, a clinical-stage biotechnology company in South Korea, for the development of GX-19, a DNA vaccine material for COVID-19 that has secured government approval to go ahead with clinical trials. Genexine said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with its Turkish partner, Ilko Pharmaceuticals, on cooperation in global clinical trials of GX-19 and the establishment of overseas licensing a 2020-07-01
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  Quick COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosis using 2-D deep learning framework with CT image SEOUL -- A computed tomography (CT) scan can be used as an important tool to diagnose COVID-19. However, radiologic diagnostic support is not maintained 24 hours in many institutions and CT may show similar imaging features between COVID-19 and other types of pneumonia, hampering correct diagnosis by radiologists. A research team led by Lee Jin-seok, a professor from Wonkwang University College of Medicine, has used an AI technique to diagnose COVID-19 pneumonia in CT images and d 2020-06-30
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  Remsima SC wins approval for additional indications in Europe SEOUL -- Remsima SC, the subcutaneous injection of Remsima, a copy of Janssen Biotech's Remicade treating rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, has secured approval from a European watchdog for additional indications, opening the door for global use. Remicade (Infliximab) biosimilar exist in the form of conventional intravenous injection. The target of Remsima SC is patients who are forced to move on to expensive secondary treatments due to resistance. Instead of an in 2020-06-29